"Maybe my endorsement was able to kick off — logistically, I'm speaking, about the timing of everything — kick off and make an empowering movement for other conservatives, other proud clingers to their guns or God and our Constitution, the Tea Partiers, to empower them, allow them to go ahead and support the guy!" Palin said Sunday at the Politicon convention in Pasadena, California.

She said her backing of Trump got the "ball rolling" for the billionaire real-estate tycoon to become the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

Palin's comments came during an interview with Democratic strategist James Carville, who grilled her about Trump's numerous remarks about women that have been perceived as sexist — such as saying of Fox News star Megyn Kelly that there was "blood coming out of her wherever."

"How can you endorse someone who's sexist?" Carville asked.

"Donald Trump isn't sexist," said Palin, who was Sen. John McCain's vice-presidential running mate in 2008. "If he were, I wouldn't be endorsing him."

Politicon bills itself as a non-partisan "unconventional political convention."

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin believes she's responsible for the Donald Trump juggernaut, The Daily Beast reports. "Maybe my endorsement was able to kick off - logistically, I'm speaking, about the timing of everything - kick off and make an empowering movement for other...